After performing yesterday’s (Jan. 4) Friday prayers, youth members of various political forces and parties marched from ‘Umar Makram Mosque to the Coptic Evangelical Church of Qasr al-Dubārah to extend their Christmas greetings to Copts. Led by the imām of said Mosque, Shaykh Mazhar Shahīn, also known as the “preacher of iconic Tahrir Square”, chants cheered "Muslims and Christians are one hand" and “long live the Crescent and the Cross!” A number of public figures were in attendance, including former presidential candidate and leading member of the National Salvation Front Hamdīn Sabbāhī, journalist ꞌAlāꞌ al-Aswānī, and journalist Hamdī Qandīl accompanied by his wife the actress Najlā’ Fathī. In preparation of oriental Christmas celebrations, the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Al-’Abbāsīyyah is expecting a large number of congratulates and worshippers for the Mass service tomorrow January 6. Muslim Brotherhood and FJP delegations are expected to visit the Pope on Sunday evening to offer their Christmas greetings. According to a fatwá released by the Salafī Shaykh Burhāmī, it is not permissible for Muslims to share Christian celebrations, according to Islamic sunnah. A delegation of leaders of the Egyptian armed forces headed by Major General Muhammad Saꞌd ꞌAssār, visited Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II to offer Christmas congratulations. During the visit, Major ꞌAssār said, “we are here to offer our congratulations to the Copts, and transmit the greetings and wishes on behalf of the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces ꞌAbd al-Fattāh al-Sīsī” (‘Imād Khalīl, Yāsir ‘Alī, Mamdūh Thābit, Muhammad al-Sayyīd Sulaymān, Ahmad ‘Alī, Sahar al-Hamdānī, ‘Umar al-Shaykh, and Hanafī al-Fiqī, al-Misrī al-Yawm, Jan. 5, 2013).  Read original text in Arabic.